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The service allows UK users to change their status, view photos and invite people to join them on Windows Live Messenger by clicking a newly-added tab in the messenger window.

The integration could be seen as a response to Facebook's own messaging service which was released last month. However, the two companies have grown closer ever since Microsoft purchased a 1.6% stake in Facebook for $240 million, valuing the social networking site at a $15 billion.

Since then, the companies have expanded their advertising deal and rumours have continued to circulate that Microsoft is considering acquiring the social networking site, especially after its $44 billion bid for Yahoo hit the rocks.

Last month, Microsoft bolstered its messaging service with a new video clips sharing service called Messenger TV, which allowed users to exchange messages while both watching clips from the MSN Video service.